Had lunch at the Burbank location a couple of weeks ago. THE worst grilled chicken sammy I've eaten in a long time! And, our server (at the counter) could hardly speak English! :( I hope for all of you the new location in Northridge turns in your favor!

Same here. We just went to the Diamond Bar Big Boy's on Sunday. I ordered the Big Boy Combo and hubby (who's not familiar with Big Boy's) ordered the Chicken Parmesan. The Chicken Parmesan was not good, and I said, "That's why I always order the Big Boy Combo."

I grew up in Detroit in the '70's and '80's, and I noticed some differences between what's offered at Bob's Big Boy and what was offered at (then) Elias Bros. Big Boy in Michigan. For example, the sauce on the Big Boy combo at the Michigan restaurants was similar to (but better than) the sauce on the Big Mac. Anybody from other parts of the country notice any other differences? Just curious.

In fact, from my childhood here in SoCal, I also remember the sauce being more like a 1000 Island/Big Mac-style sauce, not the stuff they're using at the Diamond Bar location (where I've been a few times in the last couple of years). Not that there's anything wrong with the current choice of relish (it's the red hamburger relish many folks try to find in stores from time to time); it's just different. I haven't been to the Toluca Lake location in a while, so I can't remember what they're using these days.

I think you nailed it - it's the relish. A Big Boy Combo just wouldn't be the same without it. I grew up eating at the one in Santa Monica (SM Blvd @ Yale) but the Toluca Lake (Riverside Dr.) location still gets it right. Ah simple but unique pleasures.

In Pittsburgh, the Big Boy franchise was held by Eat 'n Park. Their version of the Big Boy had tartar sauce, not the red sauce that Bob uses out here. Also, Eat 'n Park's onion rings were the thickest I ever had, each one was almost an inch thick. Sadly they have gone the way of Howard Johnson's...

They seem to have been expanding recently. Another new one is open at the former Chevy's location in West Covina. Norm's has also been opening new locations. I guess the time is right for cheap, sit down meals.

Everyone should be aware that the new Big Boy's that are opening up are more like SMALL fast food joints, not the sit-down, coffee shop-type places that Big Boy used to be (and still is, I guess, in Glendale).

I stopped at one last July on the way back from Las Vegas (I think Baker) that was just converting from Bun Boy?, remodeled and an updated version of the old Bob's, full service coffee-shop style. My friend and I happily gobbled down our combos and they were as satisfying as ever.